§ 68. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communications he has had with the Government of the United Arab Republic regarding the closing of the Suez Canal to Rhodesian goods; and to what extent Her Majesty's Government recognise President Nasser's right to effect such a closure.
§ Mr. George ThomsonSo far as I am aware, no British or other shipping in the Suez Canal has recently been held up or searched by the United Arab Republic authorities. Her Majesty's Government have, therefore, made no recent communication to the United Arab Republic authorities on this subject. The position regarding freedom of passage through the Canal is based on the Constantinople Convention of 1888 the validity of which the United Arab Republic reaffirmed in a Declaration to the United Nations in 1957.